Box-fastener



0. 0 MARTIN. BQXv FASTBNBR.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. '18, 1892.

I fill/IIIIIIIIIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CARROLL MARTIN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BOX-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484.663, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed August 3, 1892. Serial No. 442,005. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES CARROLL MAR- TIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Box or Crate Lid Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices used to secure the lids or covers of egg-crates and fruit-boxes to the body of the box or crate; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a simple, cheap, and elastic fastener; second, to provide a fastener that will prevent lateral motion of the cover or lid upon the body of the crate. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure] is a perspective view of a crate and lid, showing my improved fastener attached and the lid locked to the body of the box. Fig. 2 represents a split button which I preferably use as part of the device and the spring in cross-section. Fig. 3 represents a section through the coveron the line A of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the device, showing the buttons or screws in cross-section. Fig. 5 represents a modification of the ends of the spring.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. l, b represents an egg or fruit crate, and 0 its cover.- The covers may be independent of the body and usually are, or they may be hinged to one side. If they are independent, the fasteners are attached to both ends of the crate, and if they are hinged they are attached to but one side or end. D represents a steel spring-wire. One end d is bent at right angles to its length, as shown in Fig. 4, and is forced into the side of the box. A staple or clip of any design embraces the wire and is driven into or is attached to the box. This end of the wire may be provided with two or more screw-holcsf, as shown in Fig. 5, by which it may be attached to the box. The central portion of the wire is preferably bent in the form of a triangle g, and at the apex of the angle a loop his formed. This loop is adapted to embrace the shank of the button I or the shank of a screw. On the free end of the wire a loop 7.; is formed, as in Figs. 1 and 4, or the end is flattened, as at Z in Fig. 5, to form an olfset, by which it may be easily manipulated by the hand. The button I is attached to the lid or cover 0. The shank is split centrally through the greater portion of its length. Near the head the shank is enlarged, forming a shoul der which bears against the side of the cover, while the body of the shank passes through the side and its ends are bent in opposite directions, thus securely holding the button in place, as shown in Fig. 3.

J, in Fig. 3, represents a common wood-screw, which is inserted in the cover and answers the purpose as well as the button. L also represents either a screw or a button secured to the body of the crate.

The loop h of the wire dis sprung over the head of the button I or screw L. The end of the wire is sprung under the head of the button or screw L and clamps the cover 0 to the body of the crate. The loop embracing the shank of the button I prevents any lateral motion of the cover on the body of the crate.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a box-lid fastener, the combination of a spring-wire having one end bent at right angles to its axis and pressed into the body of the box and a staple, screw, or clip embracing the wire near its end and rigidly securing it to the box, said wire bent at its central portion in the form of a triangle and having formed at the apex of the triangle a loop adapted to embrace a projecting button or screw attached to the lid of the box, the other end of said wire provided with a loop orflattened portion operating as a handle, and a projecting button or screw attached to the body of the box near this end, operating as a lock for the wire, as herein set forth.

CHARLES CARROLL MARTIN.

Witnesses:

HOWARD S. BAILEY, WILLIAM H. SIMs. 

